Destination: Tat Kuang Si Waterfall, Luang Prabang, Laos
As a girl from Jersey, I’ve only really known one waterfall. The Passaic falls located in historically industrial Paterson, NJ. Littered with plastic bottles and rubbish, I could never understand why people would even bother to visit the dump. The waterfall spilled out into small lakes and rivers whose waters were mostly dark brown and murky. So murky sometimes you're never quite sure of what's between your toes. Uh, Yuck! So imagine my surprise when I discovered the clear and beautifully blue-green waters of the Tat Kuang Si Waterfall in Luang Prabang, Laos. It’s located in a national park along the Mekong River and is begging to be explored by adventurous travelers such as myself.
Tat Kuang Si is the biggest waterfall in the area about 18 miles south of Luang Prabang. It is THEE highlight of Luang Prabang to tourists as well as a favorite midday trip for locals. But don’t dismiss it as “just another waterfall” because I’ve never met a visitor disappointed by it. Tat Kuang Si begins in a shallow pool atop a steep hillside surrounded by lush tropical jungles. With an interesting 3 tier waterfall that leads to the main fall with 200 ft cascade. (Can just imagine plunging into the refreshingly cold waters below with a group of your bravest friends?) The water then collects in numerous turquoise blue pools as it flows downstream. Laos may be a landlocked nation without beaches but Kuang Si’s cool turquoise waters most definitely makes up for it.
The locals do charge a nominal admission fee to visit the site (20,000 kips which is approximately $2.50 US) but it is well maintained with walkways and bridges to explore the site with ease. Tourists can access the falls via a trail to the left of the falls. It only takes 15 minutes to walk from the bottom to the big falls.
"Bikinis aren’t the typical swimwear of choice is Laos."
Close to the entrance, wooden huts are provided for visitors to change into swimwear. (Women be advised if you wear a bikini you might warrant unsolicited stares. Bikinis aren’t the typical swimwear of choice is Laos.) There are also vendors selling snacks and drinks. Don’t be a jerk and litter, ok? If you’re not interested in taking a dip then you can relax in the shade, buy an awesome ‘Free the Bears’ t-shirt at the Bear Sanctuary or practice your photography skills! For my animal lovers, you’ll be interested to know there are cages at the start of the trails enclosing two Asian black bears who were rescued from poachers.
Most of the pools are open for swimming (Although one is closed as being a sacred site. Obey the signs and swim only where permitted).
*Remember to bring the correct footwear as the trails are not paved but are hard-packed and fairly even but can get slippery. Not recommended for children or the frail.
Getting to the waterfall is quite an adventure depending on the route you choose. You have the options of hiring a motorcycle which means you can take in some scenic villages en-route. The roads however are quite rocky and can be slightly challenging if you’re unfamiliar with motorcycles.
An easier option is to book a tour which usually costs around $5 US per person or you can also hire your own “tuk-tuk”, a mechanized three-wheeled taxi that can transport you to the city’s many exotic and thrilling delights, for a half-day rental or jump on one of the mini-buses departing daily from the Naluang Mini Bus station.
An unusual alternative is to hire a boat and ride down the Mekong River before catching another boat for a short hop across to the falls. You will also need to pay an additional admission fee to one of the locals at the falls usually $2 US per person. This goes towards keeping the bridges and walkways in good working order. So if you’re a charitable person this might be the route for you!
Whatever you choose, The Tat Kuang Si Waterfall, is definitely a trip with planning!
Wow! What an amazing article.